Wildwood Coach Will Keep His Job

Principal Said He Based Decision On Hughes' Overall Career Record

WILDWOOD -- The biggest win of Gary Hughes' career came Tuesday when the controversial Wildwood High School football coach learned his contract will be renewed for the upcoming season.

Wildwood Principal James Catlett announced that Hughes will be rehired, despite the fact that the white coach directed a racial slur at one of his black players last season.

Catlett said he based his decision on Hughes' overall record of success as a coach, along with the overall support he has received from the community.

He also cited the team's "very successful spring practice.''

"Everybody I talked to supports the decision I've made,'' Catlett said. "I feel that's the right way to go. If I went the other way, I think I'd have a lot of people unhappy.''

The controversy that has swirled around Hughes began after a Nov. 5 loss to South Sumter, when the coach told player Cliffton Peeples to stop "acting like a regular street ... '' and then used a racial slur.

On Tuesday, Hughes was philosophical in discussing his rehiring.

"After seven months, you have a lot of time to think about this stuff. I have learned a lot about myself. I am a different man than I was in November.''

Hughes insists the slur -- and the public outcry and media coverage that followed it -- have taught the teacher about the nature of human judgment and forgiveness.

A religious man, Hughes said the past year's experiences will cause him to treat people in general, and players in particular, with more respect and understanding.

"I understood forgiveness before, but not to the depth that I do now,'' he said. "It's a lesson in forgiveness.''

It's also a lesson in just how unacceptable and inappropriate Hughes' impassioned utterance was, he said.

"I still have a tough time believing I even said that, because it's not something I say,'' Hughes said. "You don't have to worry about it again. It won't happen again. I'd say the quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to what he does repeatedly.''

Catlett's decision came as no surprise to T.H. Poole, the former state president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who has led an effort to get Hughes fired.

"The black community got spit in the face again,'' said Poole, who thinks the Sumter County School Board and its administrators have done as little as possible to punish Hughes for uttering what he called the most offensive term that can be used when addressing a black person.

"It's going to come back to haunt them,'' said Poole, who predicts catcalls and other disruptions at future Wildcat games in reaction to the decision. "They're in for a rough time over there.''

Hughes will continue to be plagued by a lack of respect and support from the black community because he remains "a long ways from being rehabilitated,'' Poole said.

As far as Wildwood parents, players and community leaders who have railed against the coach for seven months, Poole said they will meet to discuss the decision.

"I don't know exactly what the outcome will be,'' Poole said.

The team will inevitably suffer from a drop in talent and morale, Poole said. Evidence of that drain, he added, was clear during the one spring practice game Wildwood played, in which the team lost to Lake Highland Prep.

In April, a group of black athletes announced that they would transfer to rival South Sumter High if Hughes was kept on as coach. The status of those students probably won't be known for sure until August, but Poole said their futures must be considered during the upcoming meeting.

Hughes said he had roughly an equal number of black and white players taking part in spring practice this month. He expects the same players and perhaps a few other black athletes to join his team for the upcoming season.

The coach said he expected Catlett's favorable decision because of his otherwise successful history with the school and the community support he gained there. He noted that he was granted a plaque of appreciation from students and parents Friday night. The gift states: "We love you like a father,'' Hughes said.

Hughes, who brought Wildwood to the playoffs the past three years, realizes this year's team is young and inexperienced. He acknowledged that his team's youth may be the price he has to pay for what he said, but he also hopes his younger players can judge him for themselves.

"My heart is in helping these kids,'' Hughes said. "I want positiveness to come from this, not negativeness.''

But, he added, "I've learned over time, you can't be all things to all people.''